Wednesday, 6 July 2011

As some of the player go through their paces at the training ground - and a certain someone catches 40 winks - Arsene Wenger is no where to be seen. The Arsenal manager is yet to lead a pre-season session at London Colney, so does that mean the boss has given himself extra time to recover from those end of season internationals he was working at or is he doing some deals? No, he's on holiday off Corisca with David Dein and it looks like he's having a good time.

The news regarding our purchase of Lille forward Gervinho has gone very quiet. Every rumour about him having a medical at the training ground has turned out to be false. And this time last week it seemed it was only a matter of days before he signed. It can't be too long until he's announced, surely? And it would be good for him to go on the pre-season tour and get to know his team mates.

With that in mind it's good to hear that L'Equipe are reporting the Ivorian is now in London for his medical today. With both clubs agreeing on a €12m fee but they can't decide on a bonus structure yet.

There is conflicting reports today about the future of Samir Nasri. The Daily Mail and The Sun claim Manchester City have reached a deal to sign the attacker. The price is said to be in the region of £20m, which would be good business for a player in the final year of his contract. However the Daily Express and Daily Mirror say that Arsenal have told Nasri's representatives that he won't be sold unless an offer in excess of £25m comes in.

For me our position should be this. Nasri is now in the last year of his Arsenal deal. He's been offered a new contract worth £90k a week. He wants £110k a week. We won't budge. He won't move either. There appears to be no movement on either side. Nasri has said it's not about money but about his ambition. We should therefore make it be known we're happy to sell the player if we receive an amazing offer. There is no use him being at the club uncommitted for the next 12 months. If he's going to sign for one of our rivals on a Bosman next summer, why don't we try and get some money for him now?

If Arsenal think they can get one of our rivals to pay £25m for him, sell him. Excellent business in my view. I would however hate to see him at Manchester United. Anyone but them.

Other than that there is little to say on the matter. Nasri is due back at Colney tomorrow with the rest of the French players who were involved in their international matches in June along with Andrey Arshavin and Robin van Persie.

Cesc Fabregas is training alone with his personal trainer Juan Ferrando in the gym.

"Cesc is training very well and is working professionally. There’s no way he would rebel against the club."

It would be nice for Cesc's situation to be resolved by Sunday, when the player travel for the club's nine day tour of Asia. It appears that's what he wants as well. Again, this deal is all about the money Barcelona don't want to pay us for Europe's best midfielder. They seem to think we still owe them cash for Hector Bellerin and Jon Toral who we've already paid them compensation for.

What must Cesc be thinking? Do Barca really want him if they are haggling with Arsenal over £10m? They did the same last summer and the deal didn't happen. It looks as though the same thing will happen again this summer and Cesc will remain as an Arsenal player for the forthcoming season.

I'm pleased to be hearing that ivan Gazidis won't be bullied on the price of Cesc. He's one of our most important players and should not be sold on the cheap. It would send out a terrible message to all fans the vision Stan Kroenke has for Arsenal going forward if we were to give in to Barcelona's derisory offers for a player who is worth more to us in the team than money in the bank.

The Daily Telegraph take a look at Darren Dein's role in Gael Clichy's transfer to Manchester City and his involvement in being agent to Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie. They say he has nothing to do with Samir Nasri though.

Transfer rumour of the day. We're looking at Inter Milan's Thiago Motta after the Italian club beat us to the signing of Ricky Alvarez according to The Sun.

Gael Clichy has some nice things to say about Arsenal and Arsene Wenger after his move to Manchester City was completed.

Extra reading comes in The Independent where Arsenal Supporter Trust committee member Tim Payton gives his view on where the club should go next.

Finally, we know he likes to take the Michael on the football pitch, but did the club photographer catch Carlos Vela taking a piss on the training ground (picture 14)?